Do you find that your hair feels dry even after applying conditioner? Don’t worry, you are not alone, as this is a common problem that a lot of people face, regardless of their hair type.
Finding out what is making your hair dry is crucial, so you can find the right solution. Here, we will answer some common dry hair questions, what causes dry hair and how to combat it.
Does Conditioner Dry Out Your Hair?
You may be surprised to know that If you suffer with dry hair, using more conditioner - or adding hair butters - will not actually solve the problem. In fact, it could make things worse - for example, increasing the build-up of hair products on your hair can lead to tangles.
Some people make the mistake of leaving rinse-out-conditioners in their hair, as they think this will moisturise the hair. However, this can lead to a significant amount of product build-up, which covers the hair shaft and scalp. This build-up can be hard to remove, which means shampoos and moisturising conditioners may not work as well, leading to dryness.
5 Surprising Reasons Why Your Hair Is So Dry
To help you find out the cause of your dryness issue, here’s five surprising reasons why your hair might be dry even with conditioner and what to do about it.
1. Not washing your hair often enough
2. Washing your hair with the wrong type of shampoo
If you’ve got coarse and very dry hair, you can’t just walk into a chemist and pick up any old shampoo off the shelf. Most manufacturers still use sulfates and other drying ingredients in their shampoo.
Sulfates are harsh detergents that strip the hair (and skin!) of our natural oils, causing frizz, dryness, itchy scalp and breakage. Read the ingredient list at the back of the shampoo (not just the front label, which is mostly marketing) and watch out for these common nasties - Sodium Laurel Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate.
3. Not moisturising your hair
Applying conditioners or hair butters to dry hair does not moisturise your hair - it just creates product build-up, which causes your hair to tangle. Water moisturises your hair, while oils, conditioners and butters seal in the moisture into your hair.
You should moisturise your hair with water every other day to combat dryness, and then seal in the water with a conditioner. Make sure you apply your conditioner, butter or oil on wet or damp hair. One of my friends with braids still does this - she squeezes in the water into her braids and then seals with the marula oil to gain some moisture.
4. Seasonal changes
It isn’t so much the weather changing that is the major problem. It is what happens when it does. During the hot months, the air conditioning is turned right up, while we rely on the heating in the winter. These extreme temperatures make your hair dry, brittle and frizzy.
Sometimes, if I’m going to be indoors during the winter months and even when I’m running errands in town, I will use a pretty satin scarf to create a barrier to the heating or dry winter air. I know a hairstylist who uses a shower cap to cover her hair while indoors or underneath her beanie cap. With the heat this provides, her hair will be getting steamed in the process.
5. Your hair porosity type
You may not have had a chance to find out what your hair porosity is, but this is a crucial step in your hair care regimen. Hair porosity is how well hair absorbs and holds on to moisture.
If your hair has a high ability to soak in moisture, you will find that it is also easy for it to lose moisture leading to dryness, which is why many relate having curls to the cause for their dry hair.
You need to use conditioners with particular oils which will protect the moisture from escaping. If your hair has low ability to take in moisture, it will need to be deep conditioned on a regular basis using products with particular oils and conditioning agents with low molecules that will penetrate the shaft and stay moisturised.
Dry Hair FAQs
Does Conditioner Dry Your Scalp?
Conditioner will not dry out your scalp, as typically it is not applied to the root of the hair, because the natural oils are more concentrated in this area which can cause a greasy texture. However, moisturising conditioning masks are usually applied on the scalp if you have a dry scalp, or are suffering with itchiness or dandruff.
The only time a conditioner will dry out your scalp is if it contains a lot of protein or amino acids, as these ingredients may irritate a sensitive scalp, leading to dryness and flaking. You should try to avoid these products and opt for a conditioner that is enriched in natural oils, such as the Marula Leave-in Conditioner. This actually protects the scalp from damage and is excellent for hair growth.
Does Shampoo Dry Out Your Hair?
Some shampoos can have a drying effect on the hair, especially if it contains sulfates or other harmful parabens that will dry out the natural oils in your hair. Instead, you should look for a sulfate-free shampoo with all-natural ingredients, like our detangling shampoo/cleanser, which will thoroughly clean your hair without stripping it out, and it also locks in moisture to prevent dryness.
Why Does My Hair Feel Dry After Deep Conditioning?
If your hair feels dry after deep conditioning, then more than likely you have not cleansed your hair properly, or you are dealing with a significant amount of product build-up. To solve this issue, you should use a clarifying shampoo to remove any leftover product and dirt, while also restoring your hair’s natural chemical balance. You should then condition, as usual, then rinse it off and apply a leave-in conditioner to restore moisture.
Why Does Conditioner Make My Hair Frizzy?
Conditioner should never make your hair frizzy, as it is actually the number one product for fighting frizz. If you notice your hair is frizzy after you apply conditioner, this may be because you haven’t applied it on soaking wet hair. Your hair may also feel frizzy due to a lack of moisture, so you want to apply a deep conditioning masque that will help to prevent dryness.
How Equi Botanics Can Prevent Dry Hair
We hope this guide helped you find the root of the problem you’re dealing with, and now we can find you a solution with our all-natural products. For dry hair, we recommend our Nourish and Revive Deluxe set, which includes the:
These products work together to cleanse and moisturise your hair, while also protecting the scalp from any signs of dryness.
